Unscasville review : Some 20 years on, Bon Jovi still rocks

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

Citation:

Some 20 years on, Bon Jovi still rocks
Monday, March 10, 2008
By KEVIN O'HARE
Music writer

UNCASVILLE, CONN. - Young bands could learn a lot from Bon Jovi.

The now veteran Jersey rockers have managed to stay true to their roots, hang onto their longtime fans and attract a new generation of devotees at the same time.

Not bad at all for a group that scored its first hit more than 20 years ago. Bon Jovi have sold 120 million albums in the years since, maintained almost their entire original lineup from 1983, and shown no signs of slowing down.

All of that was very much in evidence Friday during the band's sold-out first night of a two night stand at the Mohegan Sun arena.

Powered as always by charismatic lead singer Jon Bon Jovi and melodically-gifted guitarist Richie Sambora, the group staged a generous two-hour and 20 minute performance, filled with hits, a few well-chosen covers, and a handful of obscurities from throughout their career.

Opening with the title track from their latest album "Lost Highway," the troupe had the crowd on its feet from the outset, spinning through early-set workouts like the breakthrough hit "You Give Love a Bad Name," the recent pop-flavored single "Summertime," and a dynamic take of "Just Older," one of several songs to showcase the thundering drumming of Tico Torres.

Transforming the arena into a frat house atmosphere, Bon Jovi mixed "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," with the Martha and the Vandellas' classic "Dancin' in the Streets," and tossed in bits of other covers during the night including Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," to open "Blaze of Glory," the latter which was delivered as a duet between Jon Bon Jovi and his overmatched opening act, Chris Daughtry, of "American Idol" fame.

But the best cover of all occurred late in the set when Bon Jovi mixed their own eternally-lusty "Bad Medicine," with the vintage Isley Brothers' party-anthem "Shout."

For his part, Sambora shined throughout the night, delivering stinging solos on songs including "Born to Be My Baby," and "Last Man Standing," while offering some fine double-neck guitar work on "Have a Nice Day." He also took one gritty lead vocal on the power ballad "I'll Be There For You."

The crowd exploded when Jon Bon Jovi took up residence on a small platform mid-way back in the arena, strapped on an acoustic guitar and went into "(You Want To) Make a Memory)," another "Lost Highway" track. He then told the audience that the band was trying to mix things up a bit during this two-night stand, and launched into a song he said they'd never played live before, the violin-backed ballad "Open All Night," from the album "Bounce."

There were a few disappointments along the way, and at times the concert's pacing was problematic. The band will never be known for any groundbreaking artistic endeavors and despite the tribal thump and strobe light effects, "Keep the Faith," was just one example of a song that never quite took off.

Still, it's tough to argue with stunning success, and it's tough to argue with a crew and a frontman who is so darn likeable. They may be formulaic at times, but Bon Jovi's mastery of that formula has earned them plenty of well-deserving accolades.

They rocked the house solidly late in the set with "Livin' On a Prayer," and a double-barreled encore of the acoustic-flavored "Wanted Dead or Alive," and the triumphant "I Love This Town."

North Carolina native Daughtry, who like Bon Jovi fronts a self-named band, turned in a mediocre and very loud opening set. He does have a strong voice but his bandmates often drowned him out, as they lumbered through fan faves including "It's Not Over," "Home" and "What I Want."

_________________
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

vraiment bien cette review, elle me fait penser à la review de Perth (Fashions have changed, but Bon Jovi prove Runaway hit), c'était une super review dans le meme style. que j'aime beaucoup !!
Merci Franck king